Tech offers tactical classes that could save lives

You’ve probably heard of colossal wastes of tax money, like $600 hammers and $800 toilet seats (both by the military, no less), and I’m often skeptical of tax referendums, which are usually for new schools. (It’s no secret that enrollment is dropping nationwide, because Americans are not reproducing very fast.)

When I first heard of Fox Valley Technical College’s state-of-the-art public safety complex several years ago, it was the envy of law enforcement officers everywhere. Agencies from all over the country were sending trainees to use a full-size 727 airplane, mock-ups of a convenience store, bank, motel, bar and multi-story apartment building to experience realistic training. A $66 million tax referendum in 2012 helped fund the $36 million facility next to the Outagamie County Airport, but it was only available to law enforcement, not civilians.

All that changed in 2016, when FVTC master instructors Jay Zempel (a retired police officer who was New London’s assistant police chief for 30 years) and John Schira (a current Appleton police officer in charge of violent crimes investigations who plans to retire later this year) approached FVTC officials and suggested that the classes be opened up to civilians, too.

It was a simple game of numbers. There are about 14,000 police, sheriff’s deputies, game wardens and other law enforcement officers in Wisconsin, but there are about 330,000 citizens with concealed carry permits. Zempel and Schira soon had the college’s blessing, and they went to work, offering a modest number of Wisconsin Department of Justice-curriculum classes that first year.

The two instructors now offer 42 civilian classes, from civilian tactical 1, 2 and 3 to night shooting and shooting around vehicles, training about 500 students a year. Two indoor and three outdoor ranges — designed by examining the best shooting ranges in the nation — offer plenty of challenges for all levels of shooters.

The ultimate goal is to provide civilians with the same training (or better, in some cases) than police receive. There are shooting tests given to civilians that match those given to cops. Of course, this training could one day save your life — or the life of a loved one.

“As law enforcement officers, we have no problem with people carrying as long as they are trained,” Schira said. “We want people to be trained, proven court-defensible trained. They’ve been wonderful. They’ve been safe.”

If CCW holders are involved in a self-defense shooting, these classes serve as proof that they have had proper training, providing the legal support they might need in the event of a lawsuit. With about 17 million concealed carry permit holders nationwide, training is crucial, Zempel and Schira said.

Training at FVTC is “as real as we can make it,” Zempel said. Effective training is recent, relevant and realistic. Expect to shoot at life-sized targets of an armed bad guy from a variety of cover, and on the move. To win a gunfight, you need to move, move to cover and hit your target, they advise.

During the shooting around vehicles class I took Feb. 19, we used actual cars (without windshields) for training. We learned to use the tires and car frames for cover, and to drop to our knees and even backs to shoot under the cars, striking the legs of our attackers before stopping the threat with “center mass” (chest) shots.

Laser-equipped training pistols helped us see on our attackers (other students) where these shots would strike. Stay away from the windows (called “fatal funnels”) as much as possible and if you need to, shoot through those windows. Auto glass typically will only deflect a centerfire pistol bullet 2 or 3 inches, so you can make effective shots through glass, they explained.

Firearms safety is continually stressed. The instructors said most ranges in the state, including those used only by police, have had some shooting-related accidents, but the FVTC has not. All ammo is provided for each course and students are not allowed to bring their own. If you don’t have a firearm to use, the school will provide Generation 5 Glock pistols, the preferred firearm for many police departments, and Wisconsin-built M4 (AR-15) carbines purchased from American Defense Manufacturing.

FVTC’s public safety complex is one of the first facilities in the nation that combines law enforcement, emergency medical service and fire training in a single site. Last year, the site hosted a multi-agency, day-long class that trained civilians, including teachers, to fight against active shooters. Such a class may be offered again this year.

Most civilian classes at the tech require a concealed carry permit first (trained by them or others). Check their website for class listings, but remember all their tactical classes fill up fast.

Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.